I have a Walther PP in 380. It has a heel clip mag release. Does anyone know the age of this weapon? It appears to be in good working order (Finish has holster wear.) but I was afraid that the gun might be too old to shoot. I bought it second hand on the net so I know nothing of its history. Ant thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks, but no, it's not a P-38. It's the pp. Here are the markings:
Waffenfabrik Walther, Zella-Mehlis (Thur) Mod. PP
Walther's Patent Cal. 9m/m
The Chamber and the slide both have the "Crown N".
Thanks
Joe the Redneck

The "Zella-Mehlis (Thur)" marking alone would indicate manufacture between 1929 and 1945. Post-war Walthers were made in Ulm-Donau.

In the 'Gun Room' column (page 22) of the May 1999 issue of Guns & Ammo, there is a query about a reader's heel-mag release Walther PP. They even include a photo of the reader's pistol. In the same issue, but in the column 'Strictly Handguns', there is another query about a reader's heel mag release, aluminum frame Walther PPK.

[This message has been edited by Daniel Watters (edited June 11, 1999).]

A quick look at my sources shows both PP and PPK with the bottom magazine release. Most are early, but there appear to be some in no special number range. Some are .380, some alloy frame. Perhaps it was simply an option that Walther offered and a batch was made up from time to time, as most factories do with optional stuff.

PPs and PPKs made for the Polizeidirektion Munchen (Munich Police Department) and marked PDM have the bottom release, presumably per the police request, but those are in 7.65mm (.32ACP).

As to value, your gun is worth a about double the normal 7.65 PP both because it is 9mm Kurz (.380) and because of the bottom release.

If in good condition, I would not hesitate to shoot it with standard commercial .380 ball ammo, but avoid the "hot" hollowpoint ammo. I doubt a moderate amount of shooting will decrease its value, since it is not 100 percent to begin with.

BTW and FYI, PP stands for "polizeipistole" (police pistol) and PPK for "polizeipistole kriminal" (detective police pistol). Note that in German the word "kriminal" means "detective"; the word for a crook is "kriminell". A detective story is a "kriminalroman".

The PP is a semiauto pistol in .22, .25, .32 and .380. Introduced in 1928, it was the firest successful commercial double action pistol. It was mfg'd in finishes of blue, silver and gold, and with three type of engraving. Grips were generally two-piece black or white plastic with the Walther banner on each grip. Grips in wood or ivory are seen, but usually on engraved guns. There are many variations of the Moddel PP and numerous NSDAP markings seen on the pre 1946 models that were produced during the Nazi regime.

The pricing is presented if there are no import markings on the gun.

HJN

[This message has been edited by Harley Nolden (edited June 25, 1999).]

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